Basket



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. i I

Patented Aug. 20, 1889'.

Mel) 1. H. SPELMAN] BASKET. No. 409,432.

mm :2 "a

a-w ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I. H. SPELMAN.

BASKET.

No. 409,432. Patented Aug. 20, 1889 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

STATS 3" 1r FFICE' BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,432, dated August 20, 1889.

(No model.)

State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Basket, of which the following is a full,'clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to splint baskets of that type which have polygonal bottoms and fiat sides and are formed by first weaving the bottom from two series of splints crossed at right angles, which woven splints are then turned up to form the sides, and the corners of the basket then woven by interweaving the unwoven projecting ends of the splints.

My invention consists in the peculiar con struction of the basket, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, whereby the corners of the basket are re-enforced and made more durable and the interstices formed by.

the weaving of the corners are made smaller. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a basket having my invention applied thereto, a single re-enforcin g splint bein applied at each corner. Fig. 2 shows the splints braided to form the basket -botto1n, preparatory to being placed upon the form for weaving the corners together and shaping the basket. Fig. is a perspective view'of a basket having two reenforcing splints applied to each corner, and Fig. 4 shows the method of braiding the splints to form the basket shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 2, A represents the ordinary splints woven together, in two series at right angles, to form the bottom of the hasket, which occupies the position indicated by the dotted lines, diagonal to the angles of the squares. At the corners are the re-enforcing splints C C. These splints are narrower than the splints A, and are woven in at their ends with the main splints at the bottom of the basket at points which form the lower corners of the basket. Said splints O are not arranged parallel with the splints A; but after being woven in with the other splints to form a cumulative thickness at the lower corners, the re-enforcing pieces C pass into the plane of the splints at right angles to the first-mentioned splints, as in Fig. 1, and fill up the spaces or interstices formed by the divergence of the main splints in weaving the corners of the basket. These re enforcing splints effect several useful functions: First,they strengthen the basket by giving a threefold thickness (i. a, two thicknesses of splints A and one of O) at the lower corners, where the basket is especially exposed to wear; secondly, in forming the basket the bending of the splints (of threefold thickness) at the corners is less liable to result in a sharp bend and a break of the splints at this pointin forming the sides, and, thirdly, these same reenforcing splints, by passing into the plane of the other splints at points higher up 011 the sides of the basket, serve to fill in and reduce the size of the interstices between the divergent splints A at the corners, making a close basket, and also avoid an undue thickening of the upper edge of the body of the basket, which is to be embraced by the rim. Furthermore, I am enabled to make baskets which have much flare, but without leaving large interstices, which baskets, when formed without handles, may be nested for shipment in compact packages without injury to each other.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I employ, in connection with the splints C, the opposite splints D, one at each corner of the basket. These splints are woven in at the bottom, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, in position to cross the splint-s C, so that when the basket is formed up they reach from the bottom across the corner and obliquely up the ends of the basket, while the splints C reach obliquely up the sides, thus bracing and re enforeing all sides of the basket and the corners from both directions.

I am aware that baskets have been constructed heretofore with re-enforcing strips, and I therefore claim only the combination with this particular type of basket of the re enforcing splints incorporated therewith, in the peculiar relation hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A splint basket composed of two series of interwoven splints formed into polygonal shape, and having at the corners reenforcing splints whose lower ends are interwoven with and placed upon the main splints of the basket-body at the lower corners, and whose upper ends are extended between the divergent main splints of the basket-body to fill the interstices between the same, substantially as shown and described.

IRWIN H. SPELMAN.

Witnesses:

F. W. HARRINGTON, F. S. Onnvsr. 

